How can he be 3 already?

 We tried our bests to make Rhone's birthday a special day, Ben even took leave so he would be home to celebrate.  Rhone specifically asked for a "ka-chow and buzz" cake, so we tried to use both Cars and Toy Story party gear.  Pancakes are Rhone's favorite breakfast, so he got to help me make green alien ones.  Then it was off to school.  While Rhone was at school we picked up a few things and I finished the cake that he helped me make the night before.  We headed to Chuck E Cheese for pizza and games for lunch.  After a short nap, we opened presents and then met one of Rhone's friends at Chick Fil-A for dinner.  He always eats well there and loves playing there too, especially with Ella.  Then back to our house for cake and icecream and finished the night web caming with family to open the rest of his presents.  Whew, it was one busy day!

The next day Rhone got to head to the store to pick out a toy to buy with the money his grandmas/grandpas had sent.  That night we had a little party for him.  We let him pick 4 of his little boy friends to come and play at an indoor playground.  By the time we threw their  brother's into the mix, we had a pretty energetic and fun crowd.  He really liked talking about his "party" and had lots of fun running around.  A big thanks to everyone who called and sent gifts and cards!  We sure love this little man.  He keeps us on our toes and certainly keeps us entertained too.  We are so blessed to have him in our family.  Happy 3rd birthday Rhone!

 

Look close to see the Toy Story alien on the plate.  I thought they turned out pretty adorable.

Opening presents.

Rhone and Ella with his Ka-chow and Buzz cake.  There is even a Buzz hot wheels car and RC.  I thought I was pretty creative to pull it all together.  After the picture they were driving the cars through the cake.  It was pretty messy and funny.

Family Picture

Blowing out his candles.

Modeling his new birthday robe.  Doesn't he look so grown up.  I love it.

Picking out his toys to buy with his birthday money.  It's an imaginext set from Toy Story 3.  He has been playing with it for months at Target and was pretty excited to bring it home.

Indoor playground at Xbos.

All the boys eating pizza and just being silly in general.

Cheesing it up with his cupcakes.

He was pretty upset we made him stop for a photo. 

Showing off his skills with his new birthday scooter.

Happy New Year

We had some friends over to help us ring in the new year.  We had some yummy food, party hats, balloons, and even some fireworks.  Ben left New Years Day on a mission to Hawaii and then on to Italy.  It's been a while since he's been able to fly, so he was pretty excited about starting his new year off on this trip.  2011 was a pretty hectic year for us.  We are looking forward to 2012, meeting our little tater baby, and seeing what other adventures life holds.

Ready to party :)

These 2 had so much fun together.

Sparkler fun!

Watching our tiny firework fountains.

Ben and Rhone doing a little mission planning before Ben left on New Years Day.

Christmas Day(s)

What a fun and busy Christmas day at our home.  In fact, it was so busy that we opened up gifts the day after Christmas too.  How blessed we are!  We only played with Santa gifts, so that we could get to church on time.  After church we went to a brunch with some of our Air Force friends.  There was yummy food and Rhone had a blast playing "tea party" with the girls.  We headed home and web cam-ed with my family to open presents.  It was crazy with little boys on both ends, but it's so fun to see each other.  Rhone sneaked in a little nap and Ben and I got ready for Christmas dinner with our neighbors.  The food and the company were both delightful.  Then we spent some time opening gifts and web caming with Ben's family.  By that time it was time for Rhone to head to bed.  We never had time to open the gifts our little family got for each other.  So the next morning round 2 of Christmas began.  We opened up our presents, played, and ate left overs.  What a relaxing day spent all together.  We were so blessed to have Ben home with us for Christmas this year and are so blessed to have family to share it with even though they are far away.

Christmas morning before the chaos.

Rhone with his race track from Santa.  He had been asking for a race track for at least a month.  He had pretty high expectations, so we are glad he loves this hot wheels track.

The one other thing Rhone wanted from Santa was a "remote control ka-chow (lightning mcqueen)" This one follows the infrared sensor to "chase" the light.

Stocking dumping

Ben got 2 funny things in his stocking, a tiny plunger that props up his iphone and a rubber band gun. Everyone should get something to play with on Christmas right :)

Rhone got to pick out anything he wanted for Ben at the dollar store.  He choose a flashlight and gloves.

 These pictures were all taken on Christmas Day 2

Playing the Cabela's hunting game from my parents.

We got new carpet and furniture this winter, so Ben wrapped up a piece of our lovesac furniture and a carpet scrap.  He thought it was pretty funny.

Rhone made this wrapping paper for Ben and wanted this one to be from him.  It's an MSR backpacking stove.

Mom and Rhone got tired and both napped on the couch.

Ben put together the train tracks while we were sleeping.  It was impressive.

A few of the crafts Rhone made this Christmas.

Christmas Eve

I LOVE the Christmas excitement!!!

 We had a nice little Christmas Eve together as a family.  We went out for dinner at a yummy Italian restaurant.  Then we started our festivities.  We decorated Christmas trees.  Then we played a game I had orginally made for primary.  Rhone got to pick a clue about something from the nativity story and then match it to the picture.  It was nice to talk about the Savior's birth and to have Rhone excited about participating.  After that we opened our Christmas Eve presents that included the traditional jammies, tree ornament and a Christmas movie that we can watch together, and a new bed time book.  This year it was, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  It was so nice to snuggle up as a whole family and just relax.  Then it was off to bed so that Santa could come.

Working on our ice cream cone Christmas Trees

Taken by Rhone

Rhone's creation

Our 3 trees.  We have a Christmas book that goes along with this project.

Our stockings and cookies for Santa

Opening jammies

Adding his new Lightning McQueen ornament to the tree

Everyone in their new jammies.  Ben actually just got slippers, which he really made fun of, but loves now.

Christmas Trip- Great Wolf Lodge

We finished our drive and got checked in at the hotel.  It was HUGE.  We got to our room and I have never seen Rhone get undressed so quick.  He could not wait to get swimming.  We headed down to the water park and let the fun begin.  Rhone was absolutely thrilled, I love seeing him so happy!  Rhone was pretty brave and did about all the slides he was big enough for, some of them were pretty big and fast, I was surprised they would let such little kids ride them.  There was also a wave pool, a huge water fort, and a lazy river ride.  We played at the water park until we were exhausted and starving.  We got cleaned up found some pizza and then headed to the lobby for the nights activities.  They had a really great Santa there, a life size gingerbread house that was really edible, an interactive show with a bedtime story, and then it "snowed" in the lobby.  The next morning we played at the water park until Rhone was too cold and too tired to go on.  Then we headed for home.  We stopped at Ikea on the way to get a dresser for little Tater baby.  It was a fast trip, but it was tons of fun too.

The lighting was really bad for pictures so here's the best we have.  You can look at the website to see better photos of the water park.  

In the wave pool.

Unless it was a tube ride, Rhone would flip himself to his stomach so he could use his hands and feet to control himself a little.

Look at that excitement in the water fort.

Swimming with mom

Some of the slides are so big they even go outside the building.

 

Terrible picture, but the only one we got of him talking to Santa.

The Gingerbread house.

Christmas tree in the lobby.  It was really beautiful in there, with snowflakes coming off of huge antler chandlers, a huge fireplace, and Christmas lights.

Listening to the bed time story

 

View of the Pocono Mountains from our room.

Rhone feel asleep at Red Robbin and slept through the entire lunch and a 2 hour drive after swimming.